31 Chapter 1: the saintess of liberation

The date is 31st of Notos, 4990 N.E.C (new era calendar)

Millelith, capital of the Randrind empire...

In a certain secluded and airtight room located inside of a 4 story building near the 3rd wall that separates the middle class and nobles district:

Markus knew full well that they were being looked down upon since the very moment they stepped in this place but despite that, here they are.

"I brought out the best underlings I had as you requested, is there something wrong?"

Speaking of whether there was anything wrong, everything was wrong from the very beginning.

A fat elf with jaundice on his skin-perhaps due to failing internal organs-inserted that the "lowest rank" product was the "finest quality" merchandise without even trying to hide the contempt on his face.

((Yeah...I'm sure if we were both blind and mentally retarded at the same time we'll believe that))

Markus desperately wanted to insert his trademark brand of sarcasm into the conversation but the person who should be talking here is not him, at least not yet.

The elf had a number of rings fitted on his caterpillar-looking, fat fingers and a scarf embroidered with gold threads wrapped around his neck. Looking like a typical corrupt arsehole.

((I guess no matter what world we live in bastards like these are a dime a dozen huh? As they say :"appearances make up 90% of a person", people like this usually act the way they look))

Markus thought, he was already tired of this place and wanted to go home-actually he never wanted to come here in the first place.

((well maybe that's not quite true considering what I'm wearing right now...))

Markus was wearing clothes made of the finest silk, fitted with a classy suits (Markus wasn't surprised to find out that suits existed in this worlds since some CGs from the game did feature the main characters wearing them) which was a clear contrast to his usual attire, making him look like some upstanding person which was the complete opposite of what Markus really was.

His white hair which was usually unkempt and asymmetrical was combed down with vegetable oil, and also fitted with the highest grade hair ornaments.

This current appearance was designed to make sure that few people would dare to look down on him especially when he's working like right now.

However there was one problem with that: Markus's face or rather his age.

No matter how intimidating Markus can be when he's serious, he was still very much a twelve year old.

Although a wise man would usually say "don't judge a book by it's cover"-these kinds of deals are usually judged by "appearance" which includes "age appearance".

(("Just a bunch of brats huh...But looks like a rich pair, let's squeeze out some money" this is what he's probably thinking, so uncivilized))

Markus clicked his tongue at the fact that he had to put up with being in this horrible place.

"In my eyes, there's nothing but sick and and injured people here"

As Markus stood behind her, a young lady, Sophia Darwin Bella Rosewood, his liege, the master he has been serving for the past 2 years, sitting on a luxurious chair, said, as she hit her folding fan on her palm.

The young lady might be looked down even more than he was, as she was still 11.

The young lady's dress was a similar scarlet as her eyes. The beautiful folds on her skirt were made by top-class craftsmen. Her beautiful, bright, platinum blonde hair flowed down her lame dress like a silver stream of river with gold dust in the water. Her lame dress was disposable. That alone spoke to the amount of money the young lady possessed and her coming to see a fat guy like this means she's looking for a little spice in her boring routine, that's how it would look to anyone ("Lame dress" is made from fabric embroidered with gold, silver, and other metallic threads. Also, expensive).

That's why she was looked down upon, thinking it would be easy to trick a young lady ignorant of the ways of the world.

Under the bangs flowing from right to left, the large scarlet eyes of the young lady now held a slight tinge of anger. Markus tried his best not to look at her eyes. Her eyes are magic eyes. Beautiful enough to enslave those who see it.

"Really now? Well then, let's talk about the underlings while having a meal together after this"

Seeing Sophia's displeasure, rather than be afraid the elf was amused and suggested.

((Look at that, the fat bastard is digging a deeper grave for himself, at first he looked down on her, then tried to deceive, and now he's thinking of having his way with a 11 year old girl, a lolicon, That is why there is no hope for this fvcker))

Markus viewed the obese elf with utter disgust and repulsion, wondering why such a vile piece of trash exists.

((However, that does not mean that the fat guy is an idiot, this was a normal reaction. Rather, the fat guy may have done his best to get to this position...))

But putting his disgust aside, Markus was still trying to handle this situation with his normal overcautiousness.

The place that Markus and Sophia are in right now was one of the "Human Resource Centers" in the capital of the empire, they provide human resource services, it's like a place which sends people to stores that lack workers and such.

However, the head of this place was the fat guy, and he was quite rich. The interior of the firm was decorated with a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a wine red carpet on the floor. Regardless of whether it's just his taste or hobby, it costs money.

Can human resource services really make that kind of money?

The answer to that is, the men and women lined up on a slightly elevated platform near the wall.

Handcuffs cuffed their hands and chains were wrapped around the legs they stood stark naked without a piece of cloth as Sophia said, there were none in good health, some had missing limbs, some were clearly ill, and some had badly festered sore on their body. They should be in a hospital rather than standing naked in this place but of course, it wouldn't be that easy, "life" in this world is almost cheap and trifling.

"Did you say that these people are the "underlings"…?"

Sophia frowned. Even while frowning, and with distress on her face, she was still ridiculously beautiful.

"Underling" In the ordinary sense, a word that means "subordinate" or "follower". However, when they are lined up stark naked like that, they cannot possibly be either of the two.

In short, it was a secret word for "slave".

Believe it or not trading and possession of "slaves" was illegal in the Randrind empire, although criminal slaves are a thing, the act of slavery itself is heavily frowned upon by the imperial government so there were certain laws put in place like "no elderly or sickly are to be enslaved", "children of slaves don't have to bear the sins of their parents", basically criminal slaves sent to work for the government was allowed but all other forms of slavery was forbidden, so as a result these people were sold and bought with the term "underling" and bound with contract magic.

((what part of this is different from slaves?))

Markus thought, genuinely repulsed by this sight, maybe it was because a part of him use to live in a modern and civilized world but even the normally cold hearted Markus wouldn't dare think of enslaving another sentient being, that is just a line he refuses to cross. He views slavery as an unnecessarily crime, to him, crimes like slavery and r**e would bring him no or very little benefits and would only be detrimental to him in the long term. So he looks down on the crimes like those because he views them as completely unneeded.

"Well, it seems like this was a little too shocking for you, young lady these guys are slaves, so to speak"

The fat guy then snapped his finger.

((Well, I'm glad you're finally honest about it))

Rolling his eyes and sighing, Markus prepared himself for what came next.

The room door opened, and strong, muscular men stepped in, fortunately, this time they were wearing armor instead of being naked if it were a naked group, Markus would surely be scolded by the young lady's papa for not protecting her innocence.

"Hmm. These people too..."

Sophia looked around and assessed the situation.

There were all sorts of races humans, beastmen, fishmen, dwarves but there was one common thing they all had, all of them had a look of confidence on their faces.

And on their left hand, a bangle-like tattoo traces, the slave mark, signifying their status and ensuring that the slaves do as they're told through the contract magic casted on them.

"Of course, they are also slaves"

The elf read Sophia's mind and answered her before she could even pose her query.

"They're all yours?"

Hearing that, Sophia moved on to the next question on her mind.

""who else? Who do you think they belong to milady? The government? Pfft...""

Finally able to insert himself into the conversation Markus successfully displayed his sarcasm like what he has been dying to do from the beginning.

"Obviously, well, it's too late to change your mind now"

The fat guy looked at the young lady from top to bottom, as though undressing her with his eyes, while licking his lip.

""This motherfvcker...""

Markus exclaimed, exasperated.

((With this many men, and trying to intimidate the young lady…I suppose he's planning to rape her))

((Well, the lady did claim to be from a nonexistent company called "Fair Consonance Corporation", and if it is a name he has never heard before, that means it is not located in the imperial capital so he must have thought he could cover up information about her from getting out. There are no other attendants besides me either))

((Moreover, the young lady is extremely beautiful. Considering the fat guy's lolicon nature...yep, coming here was a mistake, why did I listen to the young lady again?))

Markus seriously wanted to kill himself for deciding to come here with Sophia but that feeling of regret didn't transfer to his expression so he just stared blankly waiting for the fat elf to make his move.

"Yes… I will not change my mind"

Sophia's voice was cold, like a cold night in winter.

"You are completely corrupt, what you are doing is a violation of Article 17 of the Randrind empire imperial Law, "imperial citizen Rights""

Sophia stated, her voice clear and booming like a judge passing his judgement on the accused.

"What?!"

The fat guy was puzzled and then his face suddenly turned red.

"You…I thought you were just a naive girl, but you are the lately rumored "saintess of liberation" huh!?"

The elf surmised, shouting out the conclusion that he came to.

((Oh yeah, people in the capital recently started nicknaming her "saintess of liberation" Gotta say it's a fairly creative name...wait a minute, if he knows that nickname then...oh no))

Markus remembered that nickname the people have been dubbing Sophia lately thanks to her recents "works" within the capital.

"Hmm! What a letdown! The rumored "saintess of liberation" is such a brat, and her rumored "dark knight of freedom" is also another brat"

(((Sighs)...please stop using that nick name, it's so cringey that I can't even joke about it, seriously!? "Dark knight of freedom"? What kind of edgy teenager came up with that sh*t!?))

Markus may look uncaring on the outside, but right now he is currently dying of embarrassment inside which is ironically the most damage he'll take in this fight.

Sophia was enraged internally, as she hated being treat like a child more than anything as it was completely unfair if you were to consider her abilities.

"You guys probably have some ridiculous skills and magic, but unfortunately for you, this room is cast with magic that inhibits the use of mana, reducing your combat capabilities by more than half, you wanna fight? Then I'm not gonna hold back either. Oi, you guys! Capture the girl"

The fat guy ordered his slaves.

"Markus"

The voice of a ruler called out to her ever so reliable protector like she always did.

""Yes, my lady?""

And as always he answered.

"Protect me"

An order has been given.

""As you will" ((that's kinda my job after all))

Death to all who oppose her.

At that moment, the men who were trying to surround them were blown away. Some crashed into the wall, and some were thrown against a shelf, destroying bottles of liquor lined on it. And some others, crashed through the heavy entrance door and flew all the way outside.

"What… just happened?"

The fat guy seemed unable to process what just happened.

""he number of slave traders we have crushed so far is 5""

Markus said, pointing out five fingers towards the fatty, while fixing his forelocks, which were disheveled again, with his other hand.

""All of them used skill inhibition magic in the room. Why did you think it would end any differently for you?""

Markus asked in an "really?" Attitude, to drive in the reality of the situation for the fat slave trader.

"No, uhh, wha…"

The pig couldn't find the right words, as a combination of shock and fear grasped his heart.

""Did you really think that me and milady needed more than one/one millionth of our magic to beat the likes of you?""

Markus approached the fat guy, and held up my hand, he didn't want to touch the greasy face of that vile pig, but he couldn't activate the magic without direct contact, so he touched it.

Markus put the fat guy to sleep with [blood magic], causing him to fall to the floor.

"Finished?"

Sophia asked also finishing up on her part with the two of the three slaves that Markus left for her since Sophia hated being left out of the action lying beneath her feet, one was even frozen in a block of ice courtesy of her magic, she truly looked like a lioness from Markus's viewpoint right now.

""Yes, it's over""

Markus answered, in a tone he usually took when reporting to his superior.

"Then, call the guards!"

Sophia ordered, while pulling out a particular wand that she has to use her magic to clean up the dust she had on her.

""Yes, yes""

Although he hated overexerting himself to do things that he didn't want to do, this was Sophia's orders so Markus obliged.

Markus stuck his hand out of an open window and pointed his palm towards the sky. A fire bird appeared from his palm and flew over the twilight sky of the imperial capital.

Within a few minutes, it should reach the guard's dormitory, and as before, the captain of the guards should rush to this location.

Markus wondered how the fat guy will try to plead when he wakes up…? Perhaps he would play the victim as all the slave traders before have done and claim that he was attacked by a girl and a boy.

But that is exactly when he will learn the true identity of the girl.

""Let's go, Lady Sophia. Your father, I mean, His Excellency the Marquis should be waiting for you""

Holding out his hand Markus offered to escort his lady like he always did.

"Yes, I grow tired of this place"

Accepting his offer, Sophia took his hand.

The two left the firm together, hand in hand.

((Come to think of it, why… How did I end up doing something like this?))

Markus thought thinking back on what has happened recently.

((Oh yeah it was 4 weeks ago...))

Let's rewind time a bit to find out how this infamous slave trader crushing duo came to be...